Garo Balsam (Impatiens cothurnoides) – Flowering plants

Garo Balsam (Impatiens cothurnoides) is an ornamental flowering plant that grows up to 24 inches tall. The leaves are opposite and alternate, linear elliptic to narrow lance-shaped, base narrowing into the stalk or narrowed, margins finely toothed, tip somewhat pointed to shallow tapering, midrib impressed above and prominent beneath, lateral veins about 9-12 on either side of the midrib, membranous, green above and paler beneath, minutely velvet-hairy both above and beneath, leaf-stalk slender, exstipulate.

The flowers are primrose yellow, flower-stalk slender, brown covered with flaky scales, bracts lance-shaped, tip pointed, at the base of the flower-stalks, about 3 mm long. The stems erect, stout, almost woody, and hairless near the base, otherwise brown covered with flaky scales at young branches, flower-cluster-stalks, and flower-stalks. Fruit is a capsule, narrow spindle-shaped or slightly club-shaped, hairless.

Scientific classification

Family: Balsaminaceae
Genus: Impatiens
Species: I. cothurnoides
Scientific Name: Impatiens cothurnoides
Common Name: Garo Balsam, Buskin Balsam

How to grow and care for Garo Balsam (Impatiens cothurnoides)

Light

It thrives best in bright indirect sunlight to partial shade. In an area with very hot summers, plant them in partial shade, or shade them from the afternoon sun. An excessive amount of sun may cause browning of foliage, though a lot of shade may make the balsam plant leggy and flowerless.

Soil

It grows well in an evenly moist, organically rich, well-drained, peat moss-based potting mix.

Water

Water regularly, Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Flowering plants are thirsty, and they dry out quickly in containers, so check them often. Impatiens will quickly wilt if they are allowed to dry out.

Temperature

It prefers average room temperatures 60°F – 75°F / 16°C – 24°C. In winter do not let the temperature fall below 13°C (55°F).

Fertilizer

Fertilize every two weeks from spring through fall with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation:

It can be easily propagated by seed or stem cuttings. Sow impatiens seeds in spring or early summer. Germination takes 10 to 20 days at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Take 10 cm stem tip cuttings in spring or summer. They’ll root easily in water or moist soil.

Pests and Diseases:

Impatiens cothurnoides are susceptible to Spider mites, flower thrips, root-knot nematode, whiteflies, and aphids, especially under glass. Caterpillars outdoors. Gray mold, impatiens necrotic spot virus, fungal leaf spots, Rhizoctonia stem rot, Pseudomonas leaf spot, and Verticillium Wilt. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.